Emphasizing the Human side of Human-Computer Interaction

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    Emphasizing the Human side of Human-Computer Interaction - Presentation Transcript

      • Emphasizing the Human side of Human-Computer Interaction
      • Tom Allison
      • Masters of Science in Information Science
      • @ University of Michigan’s School of Information
      • High-tech Anthropologist®
      • Information Architect
      • User Experience Designer
    1. Alternate Title: “ Sensemaking in a Complex and Complicated World”
      • “ Sensemaking”:
      • [auf Deutsch: „ die Sinnerzeugung”]
      • A set of processes that is initiated when an individual or organization recognizes the inadequacy of their current understanding of events.
      • Sensemaking is an active two-way process of fitting data into a frame (mental model) and fitting a frame around the data. Neither data nor frame comes first. - Klein et al (2006)
      • Battle cry of sensemaking: “Make Mistakes Faster!”
    2. Stories of Sensemaking and Reflections on those Experiences
      • A Job Fair Survival Story
      • What is a “ Menlo Innovations” ?
      • Why is Menlo Innovations so cool ?
      • Conclusions with respect to Life and Good Software
    3. The Job Fair Impenetrable Social Wall
    4. My Work-history Jigsaw Puzzle: Farm hand Neuroscience (discovered novel Zebrafish mutant) Philosophy Chemistry (published on chelated macromolecules) School of Information: HCI Psychiatric Care Worker Ice Cream Factory Machine Operator Work with Developmentally Disabled Graduate Student Union Organizer
      • “ Aha! You’re an HTA!”
      • Rich Sheridan ,
      • CEO of Menlo Innovations
    5. Reflection: Sensemaking and Job Finding
      • A good example of a highly ambiguous situation.
      • Induces a certain fear of not being able to “make sense” of it all:
        • Understand where to go.
        • Understand how to explain/present oneself.
      • Sensemaking is nearly always a collaborative effort.
      • So, what exactly is “an HTA”?
    6. Sensemaking II : Menlo Innovations & The Menlo Software Factory™
    7. Menlo Innovations & The Menlo Software Factory™
      • Menlo Innovations is a proprietary software development company in Ann Arbor, MI.
      • “ The Menlo Software Factory ™ ” is their idea of how one ought to organize people and resources to make software that will be widely adopted.
      • Finally, A “High-Tech Anthropologist ® ” – or “HTA” -- is the name for a subset of the team that makes up the Menlo Software Factory™.
    8. The Basic Challenge of Software Development looks easy enough:
        • Collect business requirements.
        • Evaluate stakeholder needs.
        • Produce a useful solution.
    9. … but it’s hard …
      • Tools, methodologies and technical know-how required for software development are always increasing in number and complexity.
      • The range and number of potential applications is increasing, in the same way.
    10. … no one involved is happy …
        • Analysts, Designers and End-users find their input & designs ignored for the sake of technical implementation issues and changes in the project after their work is done and “handed off”.
        • Project sponsors often feel blind to everything between kick-off and delivery and, frustrated by their inability to steer, will either become passive or make arbitrary decisions .
        • Power generally shifts to Developers under the typical project stressors and the usability suffers as the technical concerns and preoccupations of Developers come to dominate (the so-called “mirror persona” dominates decision making).
        • Meanwhile the Developers themselves feel embattled by unclear communication from designers and arbitrary whims of business sponsors.
    11. … and it doesn’t end well .
      • Most software projects fail.
      • The Standish group reports that over 65% of projects are judged “unsuccessful” by their sponsors (and this is a big improvement over the era before iterative development methodologies).
    12. Menlo Innovation’s Solution :
      • High-Tech Anthropology ® + Target Persona Exercise + Rational Unified Process + Agile Programming + XP + Pixie Dust (“Feenstaub”)
      • = The Menlo Software Factory ™
    13. How and Why It Works:
      • Co-location & Paired work (use of the reticular formation)
      • Iterative and Incremental development
      • High-tech Anthropology ® practice assures end-user focus
      • Story Cards & Distinct Roles facilitate control in the right places:
        • Estimation Sessions
        • Planning Game
        • Magic of the Green Dot
      • “ Make Mistakes Faster!” (The battle cry of sensemaking)
    14. How and Why It Works: Co-location & Paired work
    15. How and Why It Works: Iterative and Incremental development: Time fixed Iterative approach: Analyze Design Config & Code Test & Deploy Waterfall approach:
    16. Iterations and Increments: Analyze Design Config & Code Deploy Analyze Design Config & Code Deploy
    17. How and Why It Works: High-Tech Anthropology ®
      • Building project focus via the Target Persona:
      • Example: A company is building a radically new Flow Cytometer and engages Menlo to build the User Interface.
      • HTAs do initial ethnographic field studies of the potential users and their contexts of use.
      • Building project focus via the Target Persona:
      • They then channel the understanding they are building into crafting Personas and conduct the Target Persona Exercise with the sponsor.
      How and Why It Works: High-Tech Anthropology ®
    18. Brad Shore 2 nd year Graduate Student in PIBS* program, Post-qualifying exams University of Wisconsin
          • Goals : 1) Wants to publish 2 or 3 times in order to finish his dissertation and be in a good spot as a candidate for a prime Post Doc. 2) Wants to “do good science.” 3) Wants to understand FC thoroughly as a tool so that he can confidently design his ground-breaking immunology experiments 4) Wants a short learning curve so he can stop practicing and start collecting data 5) Likes to learn from colleagues, but wishes he could teach himself 6) Wants to get today’s work done quickly so he can leave lab and go home 7) Not really sure how the FC machine works, but is curious
          • Level of Expertise : Brad is just beginning to learn FC from Xiaowen Li, a senior graduate student in his lab. “This is cool!”. He knows that he must soon use FC independently as a central tool for his dissertation research. He was introduced to FC in his graduate courses that reviewed topics and methods in molecular and cellular biology. He has read multiple articles which report FC results, so he understands in a general sense the utility of FC, but he is not a “power user” (yet!).
          • Job Context : Academic, middle-to-upper tier school, middlish funding for research. Bob Glasser’s lab.
          • * The graduate P rogram i n B iological S ciences
      Phil Gilman, MD, PhD Investigator, Howard Hughes Medical Institute and Professor of Immunology, Duke University
          • Goals : 1) Publish 6 papers this year, in top journals 2) Make it to scientific symposia in Taos, Bethesda and Boston this week 3) Figure out how to make his Blackberry work
          • Level of Expertise : A big shot in his field and a superstar in the department. Does no experiments himself. He travels a lot, communicates with his lab by email, phone, lab meetings and impromptu brain storming sessions. Is dependent on his sr. students and postdocs for equipment acquisition recommendations. Relies on his long time Lab Manager (an SRA) to keep everything running on budget.
          • Job Context : Director of a large lab, on faculty 11 years. Many responsibilities outside the lab. Lab includes: 1 Research Investigator, 5 talented Post Docs (from USA, Germany & China), 3 graduate students, 2 Technicians, and 2 Undergraduates. People join and leave the lab once or twice per year. Exceptionally well funded, can generally afford most of what he needs. Married, 2 kids
    19. Building project focus via Target Personas
    20. Building project focus via Target Personas
    21. Brad Shore 2 nd year Graduate Student in PIBS* program, Post-qualifying exams University of Wisconsin
          • Goals : 1) Wants to publish 2 or 3 times in order to finish his dissertation and be in a good spot as a candidate for a prime Post Doc. 2) Wants to “do good science.” 3) Wants to understand FC thoroughly as a tool so that he can confidently design his ground-breaking immunology experiments 4) Wants a short learning curve so he can stop practicing and start collecting data 5) Likes to learn from colleagues, but wishes he could teach himself 6) Wants to get today’s work done quickly so he can leave lab and go home 7) Not really sure how the FC machine works, but is curious
          • Level of Expertise : Brad is just beginning to learn FC from Xiaowen Li, a senior graduate student in his lab. “This is cool!”. He knows that he must soon use FC independently as a central tool for his dissertation research. He was introduced to FC in his graduate courses that reviewed topics and methods in molecular and cellular biology. He has read multiple articles which report FC results, so he understands in a general sense the utility of FC, but he is not a “power user” (yet!).
          • Job Context : Academic, middle-to-upper tier school, middlish funding for research. Bob Glasser’s lab.
          • * The graduate P rogram i n B iological S ciences
    22. How and Why It Works:
      • Story Cards & Distinct Roles facilitate the right kind of “soft control” in the right places:
      • Estimation Sessions
      • Planning Game
      • Magic of the Green Dot
    23. Story Cards: Well-defined Assignments
      • JH Brad will need to select run rate before start will function
      • Est 1 wk
          • Brad must select the run rate before the cytometer
          • will start. If he forgets and tries to start the cytometer
          • before setting the run rate he should be warned with the
          • standard tone provide in sound file <warningtone1.wav>
      TA Brad can enter up to 5 decimal places Est: 2 days When Brad loads his cells and before he sets the run parameters he will also need to enter the estimated range and must be able to use as many as five decimal places to express the needed accuracy.
    24. Where Storycards Fit into Menlo’s Processes GREEN DOT HTAs Developers PM Users Sponsor
    25. Distinct Roles: Project Mangers High-Tech Anthropologists ® Developers Users Sponsor Technology Software
    26. Soft Control
      • “ Soft control” can be defined as non-hierarchical modes of coordinated social action.
    27. Soft Control: Developer: Estimation & Strictly Delimited Work
    28. Soft Control: Sponsor & PM: Planning Game & Work Assignment
    29. Soft Control: HTA: Design & Green Dot
      • JH Brad will need to select run rate before start will function
      • Est 1 wk
          • Brad must select the run rate before the cytometer
          • will start. If he forgets and tries to start the cytometer
          • before setting the run rate he should be warned with the
          • standard tone provide in sound file <warningtone1.wav>
      TA Brad can enter up to 5 decimal places Est: 2 days When Brad loads his cells and before he sets the run parameters he will also need to enter the estimated range and must be able to use as many as five decimal places to express the needed accuracy.
    30. Soft Control: HTA: Design & Green Dot
      • Yellow Dot = Work in Progress
      • Red Dot = Work Blocked
      • Green Dot = Work Completed
      • (HTA-assessed)
    31. Soft Control: HTA: Design & Green Dot
      • JH Brad will need to select run rate before start will function
      • Est 1 wk
          • Brad must select the run rate before the cytometer
          • will start. If he forgets and tries to start the cytometer
          • before setting the run rate he should be warned with the
          • standard tone provide in sound file <warningtone1.wav>
      TA Brad can enter up to 5 decimal places Est: 2 days When Brad loads his cells and before he sets the run parameters he will also need to enter the estimated range and must be able to use as many as five decimal places to express the needed accuracy.
    32. Soft Control: HTA: Design & Green Dot
      • JH Brad will need to select run rate before start will function
      • Est 1 wk
          • Brad must select the run rate before the cytometer
          • will start. If he forgets and tries to start the cytometer
          • before setting the run rate he should be warned with the
          • standard tone provide in sound file <warningtone1.wav>
      TA Brad can enter up to 5 decimal places Est: 2 days When Brad loads his cells and before he sets the run parameters he will also need to enter the estimated range and must be able to use as many as five decimal places to express the needed accuracy.
    33. Soft Control: HTA: Design & Green Dot
      • JH Brad will need to select run rate before start will function
      • Est 1 wk
          • Brad must select the run rate before the cytometer
          • will start. If he forgets and tries to start the cytometer
          • before setting the run rate he should be warned with the
          • standard tone provide in sound file <warningtone1.wav>
      TA Brad can enter up to 5 decimal places Est: 2 days When Brad loads his cells and before he sets the run parameters he will also need to enter the estimated range and must be able to use as many as five decimal places to express the needed accuracy.
    34. Soft Control: HTA: Design & Green Dot
      • JH Brad will need to select run rate before start will function
      • Est 1 wk
          • Brad must select the run rate before the cytometer
          • will start. If he forgets and tries to start the cytometer
          • before setting the run rate he should be warned with the
          • standard tone provide in sound file <warningtone1.wav>
      TA Brad can enter up to 5 decimal places Est: 2 days When Brad loads his cells and before he sets the run parameters he will also need to enter the estimated range and must be able to use as many as five decimal places to express the needed accuracy.
    35. Soft Control: HTA: Design & Green Dot
      • JH Brad will need to select run rate before start will function
      • Est 1 wk
          • Brad must select the run rate before the cytometer
          • will start. If he forgets and tries to start the cytometer
          • before setting the run rate he should be warned with the
          • standard tone provide in sound file <warningtone1.wav>
      TA Brad can enter up to 5 decimal places Est: 2 days When Brad loads his cells and before he sets the run parameters he will also need to enter the estimated range and must be able to use as many as five decimal places to express the needed accuracy.
    36. Soft Control: HTA: Design & Green Dot
      • JH Brad will need to select run rate before start will function
      • Est 1 wk
          • Brad must select the run rate before the cytometer
          • will start. If he forgets and tries to start the cytometer
          • before setting the run rate he should be warned with the
          • standard tone provide in sound file <warningtone1.wav>
      TA Brad can enter up to 5 decimal places Est: 2 days When Brad loads his cells and before he sets the run parameters he will also need to enter the estimated range and must be able to use as many as five decimal places to express the needed accuracy.
    37. Soft Control: HTA: Design & Green Dot
      • JH Brad will need to select run rate before start will function
      • Est 1 wk
          • Brad must select the run rate before the cytometer
          • will start. If he forgets and tries to start the cytometer
          • before setting the run rate he should be warned with the
          • standard tone provide in sound file <warningtone1.wav>
      TA Brad can enter up to 5 decimal places Est: 2 days When Brad loads his cells and before he sets the run parameters he will also need to enter the estimated range and must be able to use as many as five decimal places to express the needed accuracy.
    38. How and Why It Works:
      • Co-location
      • Paired work (reticular formation)
      • Iterative development
      • Project Focus via the Target Persona
      • Story Cards & Distinct Roles facilitate control in the right places:
        • Estimation Sessions
        • Planning Game
        • Magic of the Green Dot
      • “ Make Mistakes Faster!” (The battle cry of sensemaking)
    39. How and Why it Works
      • Clear design and development targets (Story Cards, Target Personas)
      • Division of roles and responsibilities is highly functional (Estimation, Planning and Green Dotting)
      • Soft Control and Parity for all contributors
      • Lightweight design artifacts and multiple easy means of communication (white boards, work representations on the wall, story cards and co-location)
    40. How and Why it Works
      • The most controversial claim, to the uninitiated, is often that the ethnographic and design group should be kept strictly separate from the programming group. Why can’t the programmers simply do it all?
      • There are arguments from the standpoint of cognitive styles and task-character – but perhaps the strongest argument that Menlo is on to something with this division is the self-reported satisfaction of all involved.
    41. Basically, the polar-opposite of this situation I described earlier:
    42. Reflection II: “The Menlo Software Factory™” is, in the end, a “ Sensemaking Factory” .
      • The modern speed of commercial and technological change requires exactly that: a willingness to immerse oneself or ones organization in the complexity and complications of the contemporary world and the sensemaking skills to make your way forward in the face of ambiguity.
    43. Conclusion:
      • The path to better software is being forged by companies like Menlo Innovations which provide environments that support collaborative sensemaking , and insist on a division of roles and series of “soft controls” that empower the Human side of the Human-computer Interaction.
    44. And if this talk had a Storyboard… Prepare Talk Present Talk
    45. Offer the opportunity for questions and discussion
      • END
    46. Oh, and I should point out, it actually does work!
      • … and across multiple activity domains:
      • Hands-on Children's’ Museum Exhibit
      • Novel Flow Cytometer User Interface
      • Drug Discovery Phase Data Mining Applications
      • Hand-held Tour Guide for a Bahamas Cruise Line
      • Blue-sky Application Idea Generation for 3D Untrasound Technology (HTA-only project)
      • Not to mention that Menlo Innovations went into business in 2001 and has been successful under some of the toughest economic conditions in the U.S. All of this innovation after the “dotcom bubble” - and in an area of the country that has yet to fully recover.
      • Tom Allison
      • (Thomas L. Allison II)
      • < [email_address] >
      - http:// www.linkedin.com/in/thomaslallisonii - https:// www.xing.com/profile/Tom_Allison
      • Finally, for more details on my background and pointers to interesting material related to all the topics discussed, here, visit my Wiki page on Ward Cunningham ’s original Wiki:
      • http://c2.com/cgi/wiki?TomAllison

    + Tom Allison`Tom Allison`, 8 months ago

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